Anna Tham first recipient of
MGS Mrs Margaret Goh Service Award

By SUSAN TANG

IN RECOGNITION of her caring and selfless service to the Methodist Girls' School (MGS), Mrs Anna Tham was awarded the Methodist Girls' School Mrs Margaret Goh Service Award at the school's Founder's Day Dinner on July 25, 2004.

She is the first recipient of this annual award, established this year by MGS together with the family of the late Mrs Margaret Goh.

Mrs Goh was herself an Old Girl of MGS, then a teacher who went on to serve actively in the MGS Alumnae Association and then as Chairman of the MGS Board of Management, a position she held for 20 years.

From her tireless efforts at fund-raising for school development to her hands-on baking, flower arranging and handicraft projects, she had inspired many with her humility, graciousness and dedicated service.

Mrs Anna Tham receiving her award from Mr Goh Eck Kheng, son of the late Mrs Margaret Goh. - MGS picture.


The award is one of a series of fine art prints commissioned by the Goh family from Singaporean printmaker Ho E Moi. It is set up in her honour and given to recognise and inspire selfless service to MGS in any form by students, teachers, staff, alumnae, parents and well-wishers. Nominations are welcomed from the school and church community by the end of the month of May each year.


This year's recipient, Mrs Anna Tham, is an Old Girl from the Class of 1951 and the longest serving principal in the history of MGS, having served from 1977 to her retirement in 1994. Even after her retirement, she continued to serve the school by conducting enrichment classes for the primary girls, helping in the Girl Guides and setting up the Archives Room. She still plays an active role in fund-raising and supports and encourages the alumnae, staff and students through her personal interest and involvement in their activities.


In a citation read by Dr Angela Goh, the late Mrs Goh's daughter, Mrs Tham was praised for her "selfless ways". The citation said "many small acts of kindness have made a tremendous and lasting impact on those who have had the privilege of either being her student, colleague or friend".

Susan Tang is Vice-President of the MGS Alumnae Association.